That is true for really all the circulating series. Generally a 68 or 69 is going to be a very expensive coin and 67s aren't always exactly cheap even with the ultra modern circulating coinage.
"With the modern tier they both charge 16 per coin for US coins. PCGS is still 16 for world moderns where NGC is 17 for world moderns." You might be right I don't remember it was five - six years ago. I don't belong to either service I just remember discussing the anniversary set grading cost and I went with NGC and I thought it was because of cost. Also, there was a membership fee of some sort. I wouldn't cheap out for a buck a coin. Several months ago, I ran across the invoice from NGC, I try to find it again. When I buy graded coins I prefer PCGS and I'm willing to pay the usually slightly higher price because of the more expensive grading fee. Times change as do prices. With that said, I collect old currency, mainly ABNCo and revolutionary currency. I only buy coins if I really like them or when I see a nice investment opportunity such as the 2011 Anniversary set. If I had sold all five anniversary sets I would made a very nice profit.
I tried searching AMPEX and other sites but cannot find a match with all being equal except the grade from MS70 to MS69 on AGEs This chart demonstrates what I'm talking about that is the major drop in price for contemporary gold coins occurs from MS70 to MS69 after MS69 it's almost insignificant. Some coins don't even have a price beyond MS69: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/united-states/american-eagles-and-bullion-coins/192/ I didn't check prices for other coins only 1oz AGE. I do not collect other coins except for the 2011 Anniversary sets and a few special issues.
Ultra modern gold, proofs, and ASEs (1996 excluded) that is true that below the 69 is a kiss of death in a lot of instances. Circulation coins are a completely different story. For example many MS 68 Kennedy Halfs will cost at least 4 figures.
"For "example many MS 68 Kennedy Halfs will cost at least 4 figures." I regret not getting involved with Kennedy halves. I remember there's a lot of variations, clad, silver, hair, etc. I'm involved in a lot of other things primarily odd/interesting antiques and modern/contemporary oddities which burns up most of my time.
In my opinion, the biggest advantage PCGS has is Phil Arnold. For $5 more, you get a Secure holder with his pictures. If NGC gets a similar program, PCGS will never see another of my coins.
It really is a much more interesting series than it seems at first glance. I'm a big fan of the secure plus service as well.
Thanks guys this has helped me a lot in deciding which company to use depending on which coin I send it thanks a lot! Thanks, Jacob
There are tons of threads like this on these forums. There is no clear answer. The answer is that it depends on the series you collect. Generally, NGC is better for world coins (some other TPGs are known for one particular country and do it better, but PCGS is not good for world). PCGS is generally better for US, but NGC is better for some series, and ANACS is better for VAMs. Also, ancients collectors don't like slabs. Don't slab your ancients.
"Generally, NGC is better for world coins (some other TPGs are known for one particular country and do it better, but PCGS is not good for world). PCGS is generally better for US, but NGC is better for some series, and ANACS is better for VAMs." I've heard this for years, meanwhile, TPGs personnel continues to change and, hopefully, the training gets better. Yet we still hear the same old tune. I'd like read empirical data that supports your statement. This isn't an attack on you just a rebuttal re: grading.
I have no idea why you would think that. The majority of PCGS world coins are overgraded. I've only seen their world service get worse, if anything. I treat PCGS world coins as genuine but raw.
That's fine if you choose to, but I base my comments how the market treats them. There was a time many years ago when they didn't care a whole lot about the world market but that has all changed quite a while ago. PCGS dominates and I do mean dominates the Australian market as one example of how that has been changing
Just look at sale prices, especially with nicer coins or coins at the higher grade levels. PCGS go for more in US coins. ANACS gets called the best vamming service because of the guy working there that does them. It's really a catch 22 though, yes they will do all the VAMs, but unless it's a discovery piece the only people that care about the obscure ones are the people with the knowledge and talent to VAM them themselves. World coins just depends on the country. Some countries have a preference that can be noticed in the market others it's pretty even.
Has anybody? Coin Magazines? published empirical data supporting statements about the differences in grading between NGC and PCGS? Last time I looked the Gray Sheets did not publish different grades (NGC PCGS) for the same coin. They just publish MS70, PL70, whatever.
My statement is from my personal experience. I'm a collector and vest pocket dealer. I submit and cross about 500 coins a year between PCGS and NGC. My main series (for collecting) are Austro-Hungarian for world, and capped bust quarters (variety set) for US. I don't collect VAMs, but ANACS attributions are known to be more comprehensive (if that's what you're looking for). I have used ANACS also for more obscure pieces. I prefer PCGS for all US series starting with seated coinage. For pre-seated coinage I prefer NGC (though that opinion has lately started to change in favor of PCGS). For world coinage, I have consistently seen PCGS do a worse job of attribution and grading than NGC has.
"For world coinage, I have consistently seen PCGS do a worse job of attribution and grading than NGC has." A terrific topic for a magazine article or Gray Sheets, Whitman, etc, that would upset the dealers' apple cart.
"ANACS gets called the best :vamming service because of the guy working there that does them." I read that before on CoinTalk. I wonder how many years that guy has worked there. When did he start? Is he still there? With such expertise, I wonder why he didn't jump ship and go to NGC or PCGS. I wonder why the headhunters haven't gotten to him.
Another note. Over the last year I've bought a lot of NGC slabbed coins that were graded at their Munich office, and the attribution accuracy was noticeably worse than what is produced from their office in Florida. I'm talking about issues like the wrong country on the slab, wrong type on the slab, restrikes slabbed as originals, originals slabbed as restrikes, etc. Since most of my purchases are of European coins, I've thought it rather ironic that their services in Europe for European coins are not on par with those in the US.
If that happened to me I report it to all the trade rags, including the Grey Sheets. Maybe, they can generate some empirical data.
